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Breakups can be difficult at the best of times, but they can be particularly challenging if you both have kids together. Doing what’s best for you and what’s best for the kids isn’t easy. Here are a few tips to negotiating a breakup when you have children.

Plan how to tell your kids

Once you’ve decided that you’re definitely breaking up, the first thing you’ll need to do is tell the kids. If your kids are older, they may have already sensed that you weren’t getting along, but the news could still come as a shock. If you and your partner have come to a mutual agreement, it’s important that you both tell the news together so that your kids realize that you’re both serious about it. You should break the news at home where your kids are likely to be comfortable. Make your kids understand that it’s not their fault and allow them to ask questions, being as honest with your answers as you can.

Decide how to share out parental care

After one of you has moved out, your kids will have to get used to sharing time between the pair of you. You’ll need to decide the best way to do this – it’s usually healthy that your kids have a stable base, which means spending most of their time in one place. They can make regular visits to the other parent’s house. Coming to an amicable agreement isn’t always easy – in the case of a bad breakup, one partner may attempt to claim full custody in which case you may have to look into hiring child custody lawyers. When arguing this decision, make sure that the kids aren’t around so that they don’t feel caught in the middle.

Decide financial arrangements

Depending on the amount each of you is earning, you should both contribute a certain amount of funding towards your kids. If you were financially reliant on your partner, it may be their job to continue paying for the kids. Making financial arrangements isn’t easy and may also require hiring a solicitor or a financial adviser to come to a fair decision.

Keep up a routine

A sense of routine is important for your children – it will give them something familiar to cling onto. When sharing out parental care, try to arrange a schedule so that your kids know when they’re going to see each parent. Try to keep up other routines that existed before such as keeping bedtime at the same time and allowing them to attend the same after school clubs.

Listen to your kids

One thing that many parents don’t do is listen to their kids. If your kids are young, they may not be able to make decisions for themselves, but in the case of older kids, they may want to have some input when it comes to how much time they spend with each parent. You need to approach the situation practically, but you should still listen to you kids and let them have a say.

A 34-mile long island just off the east coast of Mexico, Cozumel is precisely the kind of place you picture in your mind when you think of an idyllic beach vacation. There are plenty of beaches and great places to stay, eat, drink, and dance. However, it’s also a much wilder location than many others in the country, with great swathes of the island undeveloped with dense jungles and untamed coasts. Here, we’re going to look at how you prepare for your island adventure.

For you lovers of cheap travel, then the variety of ways to get to the island is going to be a joy. It might be a surprise to find that plenty of airports have regular flights to and from Cozumel, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Dallas. Besides flying, you can also get there by sea. Not only is the island a popular cruise ship destination but there are regular ferries from Playa del Carmen, as well, a nearby resort town on the coast facing it.

What to do

If you’re looking for a more active vacation spot, then you’ve found it. Lovers all things underwater will be glad to hear there are plenty of top snorkeling spots, with coral reefs, colorful fish, and even underwater caves for the more adventurous. The beaches are a prime spot for both partying and water sports, as well.

What to see

However, Cozumel’s real worth is in the sheer amount of different tours and sights to try out. First of all, it’s an archaeological treasure. The San Gervasio Mayan Archaeological site is tucked in a wildlife refuge, with several buildings from that ancient empire still standing. For those who prefer something a little tamer, the local Museum of Cozumel is worth a visit as well, with plenty of Mayan artifacts as well as flora and fauna exhibitions.

Staying healthy

A traveler should always be prepared for the risks of their chosen destination and nowhere is risk-free. If you’re exploring the wilds on a tour or simply walking far from where you’re staying, you need to make sure you have access to care. In case of an emergency, there is an air ambulance company located on the island of Cozumel Mexico. The sun will be your greatest foe, so make sure you cover your skin appropriately and use sunscreen. Lastly, invest in bottled water since safe drinking water from the tap is hard to find.

Safety questions

A lot of people have concerns about crime when venturing into Mexico, but Cozumel is relatively safe. There’s nowhere near the level of violent or cartel-related crime as you would see closer to the border. However, it’s still unwise to be out alone at night or on the beach, and you should always be mindful of your possessions. Hurricanes are an infrequent but serious risk to safety, so make sure you check the forecasts before booking your trip.

Cozumel is not the average tourist destination. There’s a lot more adventure to be found for those willing to explore, but you should remember to keep safety first in mind above all else.

With the winter holidays on the horizon, the time has come to start thinking carefully about presents. (The best part of the whole holiday experience). And what better way to show people you care about them than by choosing themed gifts based on their love of film?

No, your loved one probably isn’t going to be winning any Oscars for their films any time soon, but that shouldn’t stop them from dreaming, should it? A replica Oscar trophy can help your loved one imagine that they really have made a contribution to film and accepted an award in Hollywood for their efforts.

Okay, sure, replicas aren’t made from real gold either – that’d be too darn expensive. But the electroplated gold sure does make them look real enough.

When Despicable Me hit the big screen, few people thought that it would be as popular as it was. But the animated film franchise following the adventures of criminal mastermind Gru and his minion underlings soon became a classic. Now you can barely go five minutes without one of the films being shown on TV.

Minions, a spin-off film featuring the small, yellow bespectacled and somewhat disaster-prone creatures, also became a box office hit and spawned a raft of merchandise, perfect for the film buff you know. Shops like TV Store Online sell Minion-themed uniform union suits, complete with minion-face hood.

Darth Vader Mug

Darth Vader is perhaps one of the greatest characters ever to grace the big screen. With his rasping breath and evil mask, he’s truly a frightening sight to behold. But that doesn’t mean that he isn’t loved by film buffs the world over.

A Darth Vader mug is every Star Wars fan’s dream, and will undoubtedly be their favorite mug, come Christmas day.

Cinema popcorn is expensive. Even with combos and meal deals, you often end up spending more on food than you do on the tickets to see the actual film. But all that could change if every person in the land owned a popcorn maker: a device that could accurately recreate that cinema feel, but without the extortionate price tag.

It turns out that such devices do indeed exist and can be found in major retail outlets up and down the country. Just make sure that you buy one that’s dishwasher-safe. You don’t want any nasty surprises.

Amazon Fire With Alexa

Wouldn’t it be great if you could just talk to your TV and it would show you whatever you wanted to watch? Well thanks to Alexa voice integration with the Amazon Fire Stick, you now can. Just sit back, shout at the TV, and it’ll show the film buff in your life whatever he or she wants to watch. Oh, and you might benefit just slightly from this modern marvel of technology too if you happen to live with them.

So there you have it: gifts for the film buff in your life to bring some of that big screen magic to the holiday season.

Has the fiery passion that once existed in your relationship been reduced to embers? It could be time to rekindle that flame.

Many couples in long-term relationships can end up settling into a dull routine. Here’s how you can break free of monotony and make your relationship exciting again.

Go on dates

Dates are a great opportunity to focus purely on each other, which could be needed if you’ve both been distracted by other commitments.You don’t have to go out to an expensive restaurant – simply spending a couple hours together somewhere out of the house may be all you need whether it’s walking around a park or going for coffee. It’s important to not involve anyone else who may steal the attention. This means not meeting up with friends or family. If you have kids, it’s worth getting someone to babysit. This way you’re forced to talk to one another and connect.

Try new things together

The beginning of a relationship is often fun because the two of you are going through lots of new experiences together. By trying new activities, going to new places and tasting new foods together you can recapture that excitement. Examples could include trying a salsa dancing class or going ice skating or trying oysters – anything that neither of you have done.

Surprise each other

Surprises can also rekindle the excitement of being in a relationship.Thiscould include sending a romantic text out of the blue or looking into flower delivery and having some roses delivered to your partner’s workplace or even throwing a surprise breakfast in bed. Such surprises will show that you still care for your partner and may fill them with that initial giddy feeling of love.

Come up with joint goals

It could be worth coming up goals that you can both work towards. This forces you both to work together and support one another. This could be a savings goal such as saving for a dream vacation or saving up to move home. Alternatively, you could try to learn something new together – this could be a new language or an instrument. If you’re both out of shape, you could even vow to get fit together by taking part in joint exercises such as jogging or going to the gym together.

Keep physical contact

Physical contact is also very important for keeping a connection between you. Whilst having kids may result in less time in the bedroom, you can still try to make an effort to hug and kiss one another each day. Hugs, in particular, can be a small gesture with a big impact – they can help to relieve stress and make you both feel supported. If you haven’t been getting physical, it could be time to start breaking down the barrier – you don’t want to get to a stage where it’s awkward to touch one another.

Kids love playing sports, and many love playing on their school’s soccer, basketball, or baseball team. I’m sure that yours will be no different! It gives them the chance to make new friends and learn how to be a team player. Not only that, but it also gives them a set of skills to work on outside the classroom. Training with the team will be heaps of fun for them, but things might change suddenly as they are just about to head onto the pitch or court for their very first big game competing. They could potentially get very nervous and start to worry about their ability. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can calm them down. Read on to find out all about them.

Start A Lucky Ritual

Lots of professional sports players have lucky rituals that they always do in the changing room before they go out to play a game or match. They might need to do some warm-up stretches in their custom soccer uniforms or listen to a certain song or playlist. Doing this same thing before each game is a way of bringing luck. So, you might want to introduce a kind of lucky ritual for your child. Get them to do something that they think might bring them a good fortune when out on the pitch.

Get Them To Do Some Visualization

Another great tip that many professional sports players use is visualization. In order to do this, you just need to encourage your child to think about playing the sport and a positive outcome. This can help to boost their confidence and banish any pre-game nerves that might be sneaking up. Visualization can also help show them exactly what they need to do to perform well out on the field or court.

If you take a look on YouTube, you will see that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of motivational videos that each have their very own positive message. If you show a couple of these to your child, then they will start to feel a lot better about the upcoming game. They might even get them excited for it! A similar idea to this one is to play them some motivational music. Music has been scientifically proven to calm the nerves, and playing something like the theme tune to Rocky is sure to get them in the mood to play!

Don’t Worry Them

Did you know that parents can often stress out their children without meaning to? If you are worried about the game, for instance, then your child could quickly pick up on this and it could cause them to be stressed. So, try and calm your own nerves before trying to tackle your child’s. You could always try some deep breathing or any of the tips already mentioned in this post!

Do you have any other methods that you use to try to calm your child down before a big sports game? If so, I’d love to hear them!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or so they say. The nights have started to get a little colder, fireplaces are getting stoked up, Christmas trees are being adorned with magical lights and presents are starting to appear underneath. However, the festive season can start to become a little stressful when you have an array of gifts to buy your nearest and dearest and you have no idea what to choose. The pressure on gift giving can be immense. While cash is an obvious option, this lacks thought, effort and any sense of willingness to understand the personality of a relative or friend.

It’s vital that you don’t get too hung up on the gift giving and try to enjoy the festive season. Mince pies and mulled wine are there for the taking, and you should enjoy eating, drinking and being merry. Take a look at these gift ideas to help inspire your present purchases this year.

For those relatives and pals with green fingers or for those people we know who adore interior design, there can be no better or more innovative gift than a tropical flowers monthly club. By purchasing this sort of subscription for your mom, sister, niece or friend, they can enjoy the freshest flowers, the most beautiful colorful bouquets and the most gorgeous stems delivered directly to their door. For people who love flower arranging, this is the perfect gift and is a real gift that keeps on giving. Forget the generic sophisticated arrangement of roses and opt for a monthly gift of the most special bouquets. Your friend or relative can then enjoy adorning their home with the most stunning lavender, red and yellow leis.

An Experience

Sometimes a physical gift isn’t the answer to your present dilemma. Older relatives like mums, dads and grandparents are quite elusive when you ask them what they would like for Christmas. “I have everything I need,” is their response. Or, “Just having my family around me is like a gift at Christmas,” comes the reply. While this sentiment is all too noble, it’s only right that you purchase them something to show how much you appreciate their love and support. Instead of opting for a wrappable gift, choose an experience.

It doesn’t matter what your parents are into, there’s some sort of experience that will cater to their interests. If they adore adrenaline-inducing activities, a bungee jump could be on the cards. If they adore a tipple or two, how about a tour of a vineyard and some wine tasting. If they love nothing more than culinary extravaganzas, they’ll be a taster menu on offer at the newest Michelin starred restaurant in town. Just because your present underneath the tree won’t be the largest, sometimes the best things come in the smallest packages.

Ok, so this is a physical gift, but it is also the sort of gift that will evoke memories for years to come. Whether you are searching for a gift for a male relative or female friend, there can be a piece of jewelry that will suit them.

Dog tags for men, engraved with a significant date such as an anniversary, when their first born arrived into the world or their birthday can be a sentimental offering. For your loved one, why not consider an eternity ring, a necklace, and earrings set or even a charm bracelet. This sort of jewelry is perfect as you can continue adding to it over the years; each charm can signify a significant life event.

Alternatively, look into purchasing a watch. The latest gadgetry means that your watch can connect to a smartphone, tell you how many calories you have burned in a day and how many steps that you have taken. Or perhaps you’d rather go down the retro route and gift a vintage Casio calculator watch from the 1980s.

Christmas time is stressful enough as it is. You might be hosting the family this year, cooking for a dozen people or organizing the local Carol service. These are stressful enough events as it is! You need to enjoy the Christmas holidays as much as the next person. So, put your feet up, complete your Christmas card list, get the food order in and start decorating your Christmas tree. Soak up the ambiance and try not to allow the pressure to get to you. Take the hassle out of gift-giving and use this guide to inspire your present giving this festive season.

When it comes to your kids birthdays; the most important thing is to make some lasting family memories and to ensure that they feel special. If you’re thinking of throwing your little one a birthday party, there are several areas that can help them enjoy their day. You might feel a little daunted by everything there is to organize, but don’t; simply check out the following tips and ideas to help you plan the perfect celebration for your child. Get your notepad and pen ready to make a list, and let’s get going.

If your children love a particular character, movie, book, or story at the moment; you already have an awesome theme to run with for their special day. The theme may influence the venue, the food, and who, or what, the kids arrive dressed as, so it’s worth putting some thought into. Whether it’s superheroes, Disney princesses, or Lego, that your child wants the party to revolve around; if you’re making it fancy dress, you’ll need to send out the invites in good time and write what’s expected clearly. You could always provide a box of masks and costumes for the children to grab, especially if you don’t want to put any pressure on the party guests, or it’s a last-minute decision to run with a zoo animal theme.

Keeping Memories

It’s always a treat to take home a treat or a prize from a party, whether it’s for winning a game or simply for attending, so start thinking about those little things that you can hand out. This is an area that doesn’t require loads of money and you can be creative with what you give to guests. Party bags are a lovely memento to take away from the party, and kids will be excited to open them up in the car on the way home. You can fill them will edible treats, personalized birthday party favors, small bags of candy or raisins, or maybe a selection of what you’ve been serving throughout the day (a great way to save money). As for small games and toys; there are always options to buy little party bag fillers in bulk to save money, and kids are usually just excited to grab what’s inside their bag, so don’t put too much stress into your decision.

Tasty Treats

The party guests will all need some sustenance if they’re running around and enjoying the fun of the day. Therefore it’s important that there’s plenty of options for little hands to grab and nibble on. Whether you’re making everything yourself, buying food from the grocery store, or hiring in caterers, you’ll need to provide a variety of options. Firstly; check that there’s the right balance of sweet and savory edibles and a good mixture of healthy nibbles and naughty treats (it is a party after all). Cupcakes, lollies, ice cream, and cookies are all classic delights that will appeal to everyone, young and old. You don’t have to provide the whole lot; however, you can serve a variety upon paper plates around the table, or venue so that guests can pick up a pretty cake or iced cookies whenever they feel.

Winter can be a depressing time, but the cold weather doesn’t have to mean that you can’t do anything fun. If you’ve re-watched every episode of Friends, and you’re really stuck when it comes to how to spend the winter months, then look no further! We’ve put together this guide, so that you can still have fun, without leaving the comfort of your home. Of course, you’re still going to want to go out and make a snowman. But don’t let the rest of your days be boring this winter.

Ok, we can all agree that having some warm, fulfilling food when it’s cold outside is the best antidote to those winter blues, and the good news is that you won’t have to go out and buy ingredients, or even leave the house, to get the best cuisine in town. With modern technology comes a new world of food, so check out some of the best meal prep services on https://budgetboost.co/best-meal-prep-home-delivery-service-review/ if you don’t want to move from the couch to get the best ingredients. Yes please!

Try some new recipes

Winter is the perfect time to try out that new recipe you’ve been thinking about for a while. There are plenty of winter warmers to try your hand at if you’re looking to make something delicious for your family, so don’t fret when it comes to what you could cook up. Not only will you have a great time making it, but your family and friends will love to do the taste test afterwards. Win-win!

Get creative

Ok, so not all of these are food-based, we promise. You can also spend some of your spare time in winter making some new home interiors, if you want to bring a new lease of life to your home and exercise your creativity. You can make your own cushion covers if you want to change up your living room or bedroom, and this cheap and easy idea could really make a difference in your house. Everybody will be asking where you got them from, and you’ll have a great, and unique, item.

Check out some new series

Winter is the perfect time to catch up on some Netflix series, or start binge-watching something new. Game of Thrones is perfect to set the winter mood, but there are so many new and exciting things to watch, you won’t be able to choose. Get the family together, get some popcorn, and get into some interesting TV. Losing yourself in a different world is a perfect way to get rid of those winter blues, and if you don’t fancy a series, you can always go with a classic Christmas film (we love The Grinch).

So, there are many ways to have a great time this winter, without having to leave the comfort of your home. Get yourself a fluffy throw, and your freshly made winter food, and watch something amazing with your family and friends. Have fun!

With Christmas fast upon us, the majority of us are tightening our belts. If we don’t, we stand no chance at affording the gifts we need for the big day. That’s why November and December are often times of scant spending and going without. All the better for weathering the festive period. The only trouble is, these cutbacks often mean that our gift exchanges with our partners are pretty lacking. Some couples are so set on saving that they don’t buy each other gifts at all. Others cut costs so much that the things they do buy aren’t worth their effort. It seems a shame considering our partners are the people we love most in the world. Why, then, do we forget to treat them at this giving time of year?

Money is at the root of this, of course. But, what if we were to tell you that it is possible to treat your partner without breaking your Christmas budget? Keep reading to find out how. Look online firstIt’s no secret that shopping online usually works out cheaper. As such, it’s worth checking here for presents to and from your partner before anywhere else. By doing so, you may even find you can splash out on seemingly large gifts. If you want a diamond ring, for instance, online retailers like Blue Nile allow you to achieve the goal for less. If that appeals, try this Blue Nile review or others like it to judge how much you could save. If your partner wants a new laptop, online retailers like Amazon are a fantastic option for more than halving the cost. This way, you can splash out on each other and save at the same time. Focus on meaning rather than valueAnother fantastic option would be to focus on meaning over value. This may seem like a cliche, but it’s a step well worth taking. Focusing on meaningful options could see you both saving and securing better gifts at the same time. Something like a picture book would be a fantastic bet here. They’re cheap, but your partner is sure to cherish something like this for a long time to come. Equally, homemade items are always winners here. That hand knitted hat is sure to see more use than a shop bought computer ever could

Sometimes, less isn’t moreAs we’ve already mentioned, many of us focus on expensive large gifts at this time of year. But, when it comes to your partner, that may not be the best way to go. Instead, you may find it better to fill stockings for each other. Stocking fillers are generally pretty cheap. As such, you’ll find you can do this for less than you would spend otherwise. You’ll also see that lots of fun little gifts can make your partner smile more than a large present they knew you were getting anyway would. They’ll make your bank balance much happier, too. So, why not give this a go this year?